June 22, 2009

Onset Date for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefts

When it comes to your disability claim, your onset date can be very important. The onset date can affect how much of your past due benefits you will be paid and/or if you are eligible for benefits at all. As defined in the Social Security Act and/or regulations, the onset date of disability is the first day a person is disabled. When determining your onset date, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will look at work history, medical findings, and the claimant’s allegations. The aforementioned are usually looked at as a whole to determine the onset date. It should be noted, the date the claimant stopped working or the claimant’s allegations are important in deciding onset only if it falls in line with how severe the medical condition is as evidence by the medical records. In Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims, the earlier the onset date can be established, the longer the period of disability and it usually helps to maximize the amount of past due benefits that can be received. It is important to remember that a person attempting to receive SSDI must also meet the requirement of insured status. Insured status must be met at the time when a disability preventing an individual from performing substantial gainful activity is determined. While this is just a brief framework of how the Social Security Administration may look at your disability and your onset date, it should not be relied on for legal advice. For more information concerning onset dates and Social Security Disability benefits, contact the SSA or Indianapolis Attorney Scott Lewis for a free consultation at (317) 423-8888.